Classic platforming fun with added Disney magic
Inspired by the classic tale of a boy growing up in the jungle, this is a superb platformer which features plenty of Disney magic in both its gameplay and its visuals. The game features all the characters from the book and the film and sees Mowgli escaping from his village and return to civilisation, all the while being pursued by the evil tiger, Shere Khan. Along the way he will be helped, or hindered, by Bagheera, King Louie and the hypnotic snake Kaa, with the story unfolding via brief descriptions of events accompanied by images. Gameplay takes the form of a side-scrolling platformer, akin to Pitfall!, with players either shooting or avoiding their enemies, using vines, bananas, coconuts and a myriad other power-ups to help them out. In a slight twist, levels are only completed when a certain number of gems and a specific character are found. As you would expect from a Disney game, The Jungle Book is a visual delight, with vibrant characters and environments that bring the story to life, and which are backed up by slick animation. It is more challenging than you might expect however, partly due to the enemy AI, but also because of the controls which are not always as precise as you'd like. The music too can get a little repetitive while there is a loss of character due to the lack of voice-acting. Apart from these minor niggles though, this is a lively and entertaining romp that is perfect for fans of Disney's Aladdin.
